Burke backs Jim for mayor

ABBY GILLIES | 8th June 2010

OCTOBER'S mayoralty race looks set to be a two-way battle between Bob Parker and Jim Anderton after veteran politician Sir Kerry Burke declared yesterday he would not stand.

In what appears to be a major U-turn, Sir Kerry said he would  back his former Labour Party colleague Jim Anderton.

Last month, Sir Kerry resigned from left-leaning political group 2021 after it endorsed Mr
Anderton's bid for the mayoralty.

Sir Kerry publicly criticised 2021's selection process for the local body elections.

His wife Faimeh, Lady Burke, a long-time community board member, also resigned from 2021 last month.

Sir Kerry's decision to back Mr Anderton and not stand for the mayoralty himself effectively means the left-leaning vote will now not be split.

Instead, Sir Kerry will seek election to the city council as an Independent in the Spreydon-Heathcote ward.

Mr Anderton said yesterday that he welcomed the support from Sir Kerry.

''His decision not to stand for mayoralty unifies the decision of change. In joining rather than being an opposition it verifies that objective,'' he said.

Sir Kerry Burke, a long-time Labour MP and Speaker of the House, said a greater connection was needed between the community and the city council and he and
2021 shared similar objectives.

''We each want Jim Anderton as mayor and together we will be a team for real change at the Christchurch City Council,'' he said.

Sir Kerry was also chairman of Environment Canterbury until he was ousted in a coup by
ECan councillors, just months before the government stepped in and appointed commissioners to run the organisation.

2021 chair Dr Megan Woods said she was ''delighted'' Sir Kerry was standing for city
council and said any previous issues between him and 2021 had been resolved. ''It'sall in the past. It's politics, these things happen from time to time. We're focusing on the
election and getting Jim Anderton elected.''